Aug 19, 2015

What we post online is like a snapshot of what our lives were like at that time. I can go back through my old posts and remember the days I wrote about and photographed. It takes me back to my time in high school. Of getting rides from friends and going out to eat and trying to find little adventures in our little suburban town.

Things are so different now. I moved from a small town to a big, bustling city. I think it's easy to become jaded living in New York. The rise and grind really wears you out. Everybody around you is giving their 110% and you can only give 110% for so long until you feel burnt out.

I recently read about how Carly from the College Prepster moved out of the city and into Connecticut. It really resonated with me because when when I was in high school, I couldn't wait to live in the city. It's so romanticized in books, TV shows and movies. I thought I would live there until I started a family. I even thought about starting a family in New York. Now, I'm definitely more flexible about where I will end up.

Junior year is about to begin, which means the start of recruiting. I'm definitely very interested in the beauty industry, especially marketing and brand management/product development. I'm just worried about getting that junior year summer internship because it's so crucial for a full time offer. So many of my friends are going into Finance, which pays literally double what I will be making. By 30, they'll easily be making over 250,000 dollars. HOW WILL I KEEP UP. Thinking about this always gives me anxiety but taking it a day at a time.

Self improvement is an investment that will do nothing but benefit you over time. I want to spend less time on my phone, on social media, on the internet. I want to exercise more and sleep more and have better time management. I've been in a weird funk lately. Just tired and a little burnt out for no reason. I don't know how to explain it.

So this was just a huge jumble of thoughts that I have going on in my head that was thrown into one post. Hopefully someday in five years I'll look back at this post and laugh.

Mar 22, 2015

Health:
1. Sleep at least 6 hours a night, aim for 7.5 hours.
2. Exercise at least 3 times a week.
3. Continue to drink more water.
4. Go to ballet and yoga at least once a week.
5. Be able to do a split and pull-up by the end of the year.

Academics:
1. Participate at least once each class.
2. Do homework at least a day ahead of the deadline.
3. Review previous material before the next class for 5 minutes.

Work:
1. Spend at least 5 hours a week working on Jezie.
2. Stay focused and produce high quality work in a short period of time.
3. Set goals and go above and beyond what is asked.

Well-Being:
1. Limit social media to 15 minutes a day.
2. Spend 15 minutes every night before bed journaling and reflecting.
3. Spend at least an hour a week creating art.
4. Think more positively.
5. Volunteer at least once a month.

Recently I've been nostalgic for high school. Life was simpler then. I had less responsibilities, less obligations, more security. I can't imagine college being the best time of your life because it seems to me like a weird in-between where you're balancing school and classes and clubs with the real world.

I'm getting closer and closer to being a twenty-something instead of a teen. The thought of that is strange and terrifying. I'm nostalgic for the days when I would end school at 2:30 and hop in the car with my friends for what seemed like an adventure.

I feel like I've lost motivation. I feel overworked and stressed out. I turn to social media and Netflix and online shopping on Sephora as a way to ignore my responsibilities and escape. Procrastination is honestly my greatest weakness. Speaking of which....as I was writing this, I just realized I forgot to submit the marketing blurb for the club I'm in. Major heart attack. I need to start getting on top of things again instead of binge-watching a hundred different shows online. I didn't even make resolutions in the beginning of 2015!!! So I guess I will make them now in a new post.

Feb 25, 2015

Last Tuesday, a club I'm involved in, NYU Stern Entrepreneurial Exchange Group, had Dominique Ansel come in to speak about his success. It was one of our biggest turn outs ever!

Words from the Cronut creator himself:

1. "When I used to work at the restaurant, I was working extra long hours. I remember one day walking past a shop and seeing this very beautiful white shirt that I wanted. I spent a month's income on it. It was expensive to me at the time. I told myself when the occasion came, I would put it on. It was two years later that I finally put it on. By that time, it was too small. I had outgrown it. When you have a good idea, you should explore it - not just keep it within yourself."

2. "Baking is a science, business isn't. Both are unpredictable and risky to do something different. Everyone told me only cupcakes sell in NYC. I didn't do any of that. I wanted to do something different."

3. "What separates me from everyone else? Everything. I'm serious! There wasn't one thing, it was everything. Your personality, your detail, the way you walked, talked, cooked, behaved. Even with customers, seeing what they need, what you have, bringing everything together. I can't say one thing separated me from the rest."

Today consisted of a coffee chat at a cafe hidden in the back of a bike shop, an opportunity to learn from the jack of all trades - Steven Alan, a bowl of made by hand pumpkin ravioli with sage butter and a package of prettily packaged makeup.

Sep 20, 2014

I started this little blog over two years ago the summer before my senior year. I have almost a sort of fondness for my old posts, seeing the life and times of high school me. I'm glad that I will have a happy nostalgia for my high school years and time spent growing up in the best town ever, South Brunswick. College has been completely out of my comfort zone but I truly feel that my overall college experience is preparing me to do well in the real world.

Studying abroad in Shanghai is definitely very difficult. The culture shock, language barriers, new environment, new people. It's hard right now but I am glad I'm doing it.